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Webster 1913 Edition


Unfavorable

Un-fa′vor-a-ble

,
Adj.
Not favorable; not propitious; adverse; contrary; discouraging.
Un-fa′vor-a-ble-ness
,
Noun.
Un-fa′vor-a-bly
,
adv.

Webster 1828 Edition


Unfavorable

UNFA'VORABLE

, a.
1.
Not favorable; not propitious; not disposed or adapted to countenance or support. We found the minister's opinion unfavorable to our project. The committee made a report unfavorable to the petitioner.
2.
Not propitious; not adapted to promote any object; as weather unfavorable for harvest.
3.
Not kind; not obliging.
4.
Discouraging; as unfavorable prospects.

Definition 2024


unfavorable

unfavorable

English

Alternative forms

Adjective

unfavorable (comparative more unfavorable, superlative most unfavorable)

  1. Disadvantageous, adverse, unsuitable, inconducive; serving to hinder or oppose.
    • 1863, Henry David Thoreau, Excursions, ch. 6:
      The shade of a dense pine wood, is more unfavorable to the springing up of pines of the same species than of oaks within it.
  2. (of a belief, state of mind, etc) Not favorable, disapproving.
    • 1860, George Eliot, The Mill on the Floss, ch. 11:
      [Y]et the thing she most dreaded was to offend the gypsies, by betraying her extremely unfavorable opinion of them.
  3. (of wind or weather) Causing obstacles or delay; not conducive to travel or work; inclement.
  4. Not auspicious; ill-boding.
    • 1903, Anna Katharine Green, The Filigree Ball, ch. 6:
      The fact that the bride went through the ceremony without her bridal bouquet is looked upon by many as an unfavorable omen.

Usage notes

  • Nouns to which "unfavorable" is often applied: condition, circumstance, weather, climate, outcome, result, opinion, view, impression, effect, consequence, impact, influence, environment, balance, information, report, prognosis, rating, evaluation, review, position, factor, feature, aspect, reaction, response, attitude, season, development, treatment, ruling, case, state, experience, inference.

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